Description

Wessex Archaeology was engaged by Barrie Tankel Partnership (The Client) to undertake an archaeological evaluation at 174-178 Long Lane, in the London Borough of Southwark (the Site) in advance of the construction of residential properties. The Site, centred on NGR 533059/179531, is to the south of the projected course of the Neckinger River, a former tributary of the Thames and is located on the northwest edge of a relict gravel island or eyot (Bermondsey Eyot).
Previous excavations at 180-196 Long Lane have recovered prehistoric flint, Roman ditches and medieval quarry pits. Roman deposits were excavated at 175-177 Long Lane and excavations at 211 Long Lane demonstrated the existence of features ranging from prehistoric stream channels to post-medieval tanning pits. Cartographic evidence shows the Site to be open, arable land, during the post-medieval period (dated from 1538) until development in the 18th century.
Archaeological evaluation of the Site has demonstrated the presence of Romano-British ditches and pits, dating to the late 1st or early 2nd century AD. No evidence for earlier activity has been recorded within the footprint of the trenches. Other features, of medieval, post-medieval and industrial/modern date were also revealed.